Infants
This is an offshoot of the classic story by Eric Carle. In it you’ll find the same endearing collage illustrations but of different fall landscapes and activities. The bright colors that fill each page are sure to captivate little ones, and readers will feel a sene of contentment reflecting on the new season and the many firsts that await baby in the fall. To complete the collection, there are also The Very Hungry Caterpillar's First Winter, Spring, and Summer.
This is a great pick for young babies that are just starting to interact with books. The felt flaps are easy for tiny fingers to lift, and you can count on a big smile when your little one finds their reflection on the last page. Once baby gets a little more dexterous, check out Peekaboo Pumpkin. This is another interactive board book by Ingela Arhennius that has hidden sliders baby can pull for a Halloween themed game of peek-a-boo.
Toddlers/Preschool
Room on the Broom is one of the most read children’s books during the Halloween season. The story centers on a witch cruising the night sky on her broomstick with her cat, when some strong gusts of wind blow away her hat, bow, and wand one by one. Just as she thinks all hope is lost, she recovers each of her items with the help of three unlikely friends. This rhyming story is more sweet than it is spooky, and teaches readers a lesson about kindness and paying it forward. Room on the Broom was also adapted into a stop motion animation movie which is every bit as cute as the book. You can find it on Prime Video and Apple TV along with The Gruffalo, another short film based on author Julia Donaldson’s other bestselling book.
This book is a fun and festive pick for little ones who enjoy counting or are just learning their numbers. It counts up from 1-13 by listing the different items found at Mr. Pumpkin's spooky soiree and features alluring watercolor illustrations and rhyming verses. Your child will enjoy counting along as you take inventory of each ghastly guests' contributions, until the witching hour chimes and it's time for bed!
This bedtime read is the perfect choice for train lovers at Halloween. A special edition of The Goodnight Train series, your little one will be whisked off to dreamland with its enchanting imagery of pumpkin lined railroads and boxcars overflowing with candy. It is also a relatively short read making it a good pick if your child asks for more than one story at bedtime.
The Leaf Thief is a silly picture book that will entertain the whole family. A rather nervous squirrel begins to notice the beautiful autumn leaves on his tree are going missing and assumes they were stolen. After accusing a few of his neighbors, a friend helps him uncover the real culprit and Squirrel learns to embrace his everchanging home. The Leaf Thief is sure to spark curiosity in young minds about the changing of the seasons and with some laughs too!
Kindergarten
Leaf Man takes readers on a sightseeing journey across scenic lakes, mountains, apple orchards, and wherever the blustery fall winds blow him. Author Lois Ehlert beautifully details the many different signals of fall using abstract illustrations that were constructed from real leaves. It has become a classroom favorite for almost 20 years now, and it will leave kiddos wondering where Leaf Man may drift to next…Check out this cute activity from Play Of The Wild for your child to make their very own Leaf Man!
Halloween Is Coming is the perfect selection to get young ghouls and goblins excited for spooky season. It is a rhyming story filled with charming illustrations of children getting ready for Trick-Or-Treat in what looks like a quintessential New England town. After reading you’ll feel a sense of nostalgia of Octobers bygone and your child will be eagerly brainstorming what they want to dress up as this year. The story also reminds young readers that they can be whoever they choose to be, and not just on Halloween!
This lift-the-flap story takes readers through the creepy chambers of a haunted house and teaches them that many of the thrills of Halloween are just pretend. Kids inevitably get a little scared this time of year, whether it is going through a haunted house or seeing a scary costume in the street, and this cute book helps them understand that many of the haunts and jaunts of the holiday are just make believe.
Early Elementary
I can’t complete this list without including my husband’s children’s book, Tyler’s Pumpkin Patch. All bias aside, this enchanting tale will quickly become a favorite of any young boy or girl that loves pumpkins and using their imagination. The story is centered on Tyler, a boy who plants some pumpkin seeds in his backyard and dreams of growing his own thriving patch. Despite being teased and doubted, Tyler never stops believing that those tiny seeds will someday grow into something spectacular. In our fast paced world it is easier than ever to become distracted from the pure wonder and innocence of being a child - Tyler is here to help us all remember how to dream and to inspire us to never stop.
Tyler’s Pumpkin Patch is actually based on a true story about my husband’s brother Tyler. When they were kids, Tyler planted some pumpkin seeds in their backyard and although a giant pumpkin patch was never yielded, he managed to grow just one small pumpkin. Tyler is a person who never loses faith in his dreams and this only became more true when he was diagnosed with leukemia at fifteen years old. It was a long and tough road but he never let go of his aspirations which helped him overcome his illness. Tyler has been cancer free for twenty years now and has two beautiful daughters who dream big just like their dad!
This endearing story will win over the hearts of cat lovers and anyone that loves their pets. It tells the story of a girl and her cat who discover a lost kitten and try to help it find its way home. The Little Kitten can be enjoyed all year long as it’s not overly Halloween themed, and it teaches kids a unique lesson to not turn their backs on their old pets if a new furry friend comes into their life. It’s never too early to learn that all of our pets are special and deserve equal praise and attention!
This zany how-to guide is guaranteed to generate laughs from kids and adults of all ages. From its advice on ghosts’ favorite foods (moldy toast and pickled boogers) to its instructions on how to properly care and play with them, this book is as funny as it is heartwarming. It is also a great pick for children that have a fear of ghosts and may even help them sleep more soundly at night.
Big Kids
Known as the Stephen King of the children's horror genre, Goosebumps author R.L. Stein has over 60 chilling tales to pick from within his bestselling series. The Night of the Living Dummy I II & III, The Haunted Mask, Say Cheese And Die - The list goes on! There’s a reason his books have maintained popularity for the last 30 years and remain an excellent reading choice for young horror aficionados. What’s more is a brand new Goosebumps series is currently in the works and will be released on Disney+. In the meantime you can always stream some of the original Goosebumps episodes for some 90s nostalgia.
This classic novel by Ray Bradbury is a great choice for kids that are interested in learning about the history and origins of Halloween. Geared for ages 8-14, the story centers on a group of kids getting ready for Trick-Or-Treat when they realize their friend Pip is missing. While searching for Pip they are led to a haunted house where they end up traveling through space and time to try to save him and in the process come to understand the true meaning of Halloween. The Halloween Tree may have inspired other scary works such as It and Stranger Things but you can rest assured that Bradbury keeps his story PG.
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